Marsaxlokk bid farewell to Premier League with fine win

Marsaxlokk brought their Premier League commitments to an end with a fine 4-2 win over Tarxien Rainbows.

The Southseasiders scored no less than four goals in the first twenty-five minutes and continued to hold the initiative for the rest of the first half. After the break, the Rainbows improved, scoring twice to reduce the gap.

Marsaxlokk made their intentions clear right from the start going close on the 6th minute when a Jean Paul Farrugia header was cleared off the goal line by a defender

They managed to take the lead on the 8th minute thanks to Alex Cesar Pedrozo who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Nicky Vella off a cross by Jean Paul Farrugia.

Ten minutes later, Marsaxlokk doubled the score cross Darrel Grech from the right, Jean Paul Farrugia’s first attempt was blocked by Nicky Vella but the ball bounced on Farrugia, ending at the back of the net.

Marsaxlokk scored the third goal on 22 minutes when Farrugia sent Alex Cesar Pedrozo through and the latter flicked the ball home past the Tarxien custodian.

Tarxien replied with a diagonal shot by Jimmy Nzinga Mayasi from the right which scraped past the post on the 23rd.

However on the 25th minute, Jean Paul Farrugia concluded a good move with a rising shot from outside the area which beat Vella for the Southseasiders’ fourth goal.

Everton Antonio Pereira had a freekick from the left ended wide two minutes from the end of the first half and just before the break, a powerful shot by Daniel Mariano Bueno from outside the area was neutralised by Christian Cassar

Tarxien reduced the gap seven minutes in the second half when off a through pass by Adrian Carabott, Daniel Mariano Bueno beat goalkeeper Christian Cassar

On the 56th minute, Christian Cassar seemed to bring Jimmy Nzinga Mayasi down inside the area but referee Glenn Tonna waved play on. The Danish striker regained possession oof the ball but his conclusion was cleared off the goal line by a defender.

An Everton header was turned into a corner on 65 minutes following a freekick by de Castro and three minutes later, Cassar performed a good save on a Bueno header off a cross by Adrian Carabott from the right. Adrian Carabott then hit high off a cross by de Castro.

Tarxien scored a second goal four minutes from time when off a freekick by Luiz Romulo de Castro, Carlo Mamo headed the ball in the direction of substitute Warren Zerafa who headed the ball home from close range.

Jean Paul Farrugia was voted BOV Player of the Match.

TARXIEN Nicky Vella, Steve Sadowski, Manuel Caruana, Adrian Carabott (84’ Warren Zerafa), Clive Fenech, Jimmy Nzinga Mayasi (64’ Carlo Mamo), Karl Pulo, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Luiz Romulo de Castro, Lee Galea (31’ Justin Grioli), Everton Antonio Pereira.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Mark Tanti, Julian Vella, Ryan Mintoff.
Coach: Patrick Curmi
Asst. Coach: Michael Church

M’XLOKK Christian Cassar, Clive Brincat, Patrick Borg, Jonathan Xerri, Darrell Grech (69’ Craig Debattista), Trevor Templeman, Gary Caruana (62’ Dylan Attard), Sunday Eboh, Jean Paul Farrugia, Modesto Valeriani, Alex Cesar Pedrozo (75’ Darren Attard).
Subs not used: Christian Gafa, Jermain Brincat, Sacha Borg, Paul Paris.
Coach: Anton Cremona
Asst. Coach: Louis Cutajar

Referee: Glenn Tonna
Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Alex Grech
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: D. Grech, P. Borg, Bueno, Grioli
Scorers: 8’ Alex Cesar Pedrozo (M), 18’ Jean Paul Farrugia (M), 22’ Alex Cesar Pedrozo (M), 25’ Jean Paul Farrugia (M); 52’ Daniel Mariano Bueno (T); 86’ Warren Zerafa (T)
Attendance: 100